Pernilla

Pernilla is a female first name that was adopted from the Scandinavian region in the 1960s. It represents the Swedish variant of Petronella and is considered a feminine derivative of the ancient Roman family name Petronius.

What does the name Pernilla mean?

The name Pernilla, which comes from Scandinavian origins, is a Swedish form of Petronella and is considered the feminine counterpart of the ancient Roman name Petronius. The meaning of the name is "the backwoods woman" or "the descendant of the Petronii." Its roots lie in Etruscan and Latin, likely derived from the Etruscan word petruna or the Latin petrō/petronis, which means "the land wanderer," "the simpleton," "the backwoods person," or "the hay seed." The name became known through Saint Petronilla, who is venerated by the Catholic Church as a virgin martyr. Variants of the name include Petrona, Petronelia, Petronyl, Petronelle, Petronel, Petronilla, Petronela, Petronia, Pernille, Peternella, Petronille, and Pernelle.

Where does the name Pernilla come from?

The origin of the name Pernilla is Etruscan and Latin, with the meaning "the backwoods woman." The word components in Etruscan and Latin are petrō and petronis, which mean "the land wanderer," "the simpleton," "the backwoods person," or "the hay seed." The name is prevalent in Scandinavian languages, particularly Swedish.

How do you pronounce Pernilla?

The pronunciation of Pernilla is three syllables and softly rhythmic. In the German version, the name is pronounced as "Per-nil-la" [pɛʁˈnɪla]. It begins with a clear "Per," with the rolled or guttural "r" adding a deep note. The emphasis is mainly on the middle syllable "-nil-", giving the name a distinct inner structure. The double "l" gently leads into the open ending "-a," which makes the sound soft and feminine. Pernilla has a Nordic-fresh yet elegant aura, combining clarity, delicacy, and unobtrusive strength.

When is the name day of Pernilla?

The name day for Pernilla is celebrated on May 31.

Popularity

In Germany, Pernilla is a rather rare name. In 2021, it ranked 5,220th on the list of most common female first names. Its best ranking was in 2011 at 2,438th. Over the last ten years, Pernilla has been chosen as a first name approximately 20 times, placing it at 6,173rd in the ten-year statistics. For the period from 2010 to 2024, it ranks 5,917th.

Nicknames & pet names

Nilla / Nilli / P / Penny / Perni / Perper / Pi / Pilla / Pillan

Famous people

• Anna Pernilla Torndahl (Swedish singer)
• Mia Pernilla Hertzman-Ericson (Swedish actress)
• Pernilla Allwin (actress who played Fanny in Ingmar Bergman's 'Fanny and Alexander')
• Pernilla Andersson (Swedish singer)
• Pernilla August (actress)
• Pernilla Karlsson (Finnish singer)
• Pernilla Lindberg (American golfer)
• Pernilla Nordlund (Finnish footballer)
• Pernilla Stalfelt (children's book illustrator)
• Pernilla Sternäng (Swedish singer)
• Pernilla Wahlgren (Swedish singer)
• Pernilla Wiberg (alpine ski racer)
• Pernilla Winberg (Swedish ice hockey player)